Mac woman charged for relations with foster teen

A 44-year-old McPherson woman is being charged with four counts of unlawful sexual relations with a 17-year-old in her foster care.

From Staff Reports

A 44-year-old McPherson woman is being charged with four counts of unlawful sexual relations with a 17-year-old in her foster care.

According to the complaint filed by prosecutors in District Court, Teresa Lee Snyder engaged in consensual sexual intercourse with the teen in August and September. This occurred while she was in a position of authority in a family foster home licensed by the Department of Health and Environment.

According to McPherson County attorney David Page, the complaint falls under an amendment that took effect July 1, which specifically makes it a crime for someone of authority in a foster home to have consensual sex with a foster child in their care who is 16 or older. This change shifted the severity level from a level 9 to a level 5.

If Snyder had been charged with a severity level 9, she would have faced imprisonment of five to 17 months and a fine of up to $100,000. At severity level 5, however, Snyder faces imprisonment up to 136 months and a fine up to $300,000 for each count.